After a long hiatus, I'm back.

[Stigster]

Hi folks, old and new.

I'm back on the tools, back on the forums. I'm working for myself since the start of this year and just know I will be needing your help and advice sooner or later, probably sooner. This place is too good of a resource to miss out on, especially flying solo, so here I am again.

Cheers,

Stig

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Hello and welcome back

 

[Lou]

Great news @Stigster great to have you back!

How are you finding working for yourself?

 

[Stigster]

Great news @Stigster great to have you back!

How are you finding working for yourself?

Thanks for the welcome. I'm really enjoying it. I've taken on a few small jobs at the start of this year and I'm currently working on a bathroom for one of my old colleagues (he's a carpenter, not a plumber), a full install from scratch and it's going well. I really need a van though as I'm currently working out of my car. Luckily for anything large the merchants deliver for free here. I have the money for a van, just need to find the right one.

I like choosing my own hours as long as I'm not holding anyone up on site. The job I'm doing now for my old colleague is great as he's very understanding, a good guy. We had a discussion about my hourly rate and I've set mine quite low for this job to take the pressure off whilst I get my industrial speed up again. Also to get my confidence back working on site, not that anything went wrong in the past, just that I haven't had to plan and execute a larger job (for me) for a long time so I know I'm faffing a bit.

I spent the last ten years working at a trade school in the plumbing workshop and it just became time for a change. Plus I like to travel in Europe with road trips and camping so this will enable me to do more of that. I've been single the last few years now, don't have a property anymore :-( and have somewhere decent and affordable to live (very rare these days) so going well. At least I have a lot of freedom now.

It's good to be back here too.

 

[Lou]

Thanks for the welcome. I'm really enjoying it. I've taken on a few small jobs at the start of this year and I'm currently working on a bathroom for one of my old colleagues (he's a carpenter, not a plumber), a full install from scratch and it's going well. I really need a van though as I'm currently working out of my car. Luckily for anything large the merchants deliver for free here. I have the money for a van, just need to find the right one.

I like choosing my own hours as long as I'm not holding anyone up on site. The job I'm doing now for my old colleague is great as he's very understanding, a good guy. We had a discussion about my hourly rate and I've set mine quite low for this job to take the pressure off whilst I get my industrial speed up again. Also to get my confidence back working on site, not that anything went wrong in the past, just that I haven't had to plan and execute a larger job (for me) for a long time so I know I'm faffing a bit.

I spent the last ten years working at a trade school in the plumbing workshop and it just became time for a change. Plus I like to travel in Europe with road trips and camping so this will enable me to do more of that. I've been single the last few years now, don't have a property anymore :-( and have somewhere decent and affordable to live (very rare these days) so going well. At least I have a lot of freedom now.

It's good to be back here too.

Well we are very happy to see you back too - living costs just seem to be going up and up each month right now..

What vans are on your shortlist? Have you had a look at any? Lots of electric Amazon and DPD vans round here now!

I would love a camping trip anywhere but I think it is still a bit too cold for me! I much prefer Summer!

 

[Stigster]

Well we are very happy to see you back too - living costs just seem to be going up and up each month right now..

What vans are on your shortlist? Have you had a look at any? Lots of electric Amazon and DPD vans round here now!

I would love a camping trip anywhere but I think it is still a bit too cold for me! I much prefer Summer!

I'm looking at a petrol or diesel Nissan NV200 or Toyota Proace City. I like the idea of electric but I have on-street parking and nowhere easy to charge. Same goes for in Europe. I go right out in the sticks and also make some seriously long journeys and the infrastructure just isn't really there in France and Spain in particular. Not yet anyway.

I notice that small petrol and diesel vans are costing more than the equivalent electric, at least where I live on the Island of Guernsey which is a shame but again, for so many of us the charging opportunities are just not there yet.

As for cost of living, yes indeed. Rents here are insane and a mortgage is so far out of reach for me right now and I'm not getting any younger. After I got divorced I moved back to my dad's place. He's cool and a great guy but I moved out of home in 1997 and I don't want to go backwards on that front. Luckily for me a good old mate moved back to the island and wanted a tenant to share the house and he's really reasonable with the rent. Another thing that has afforded me a lot more freedom than I was ever used to.

Overall, things are on the up. And also, thank you for asking!

 

[SimonG]

Welcome back and good luck with the self employment

 

[oz-plumber]

Just Googled where you lived.
Looks like a nice place.

I also live on a island.

 

[Stigster]

Just Googled where you lived.
Looks like a nice place.

I also live on a island.

Hi Oz,

I like island life, love the sea and the beaches we have, everything is nearby. There's also a heck of a lot of work available here. Lots of people in a very small place. The winter and stormy/wet weather drags on for what feels like forever it seems and that's the only thing I don't like. Oh and the cost of getting off the island is really quite high unless you are going as a foot passenger on one of the boats.

Still, I can't complain as it is a nice place to live. My daughter and granddaughter are here on the island too which is great. They are only a ten minute drive or cycle away. I have lived here my whole life.